Rare and Precious Things (The Blackstone Affair #4)(43)
Author: Raine Miller

Sarah Hasting’s? I knew exactly who she was. And thought it very strange that Ethan was with her when he should have been with me. I remembered how upsetting her presence had been for him at the wedding, thus my concern about her trying to dig her claws into him to soothe her grief. I respected the military loyalty, but it wasn’t fair for Ethan to suffer more because of her loss. If she was guilting him into talking about her husband I would have to set the woman straight. I felt myself bristle as I replied to his text, but remembered that it wasn’t Ethan’s phone that would receive my message, so I kept it neutral. But I made sure to add Sarah’s number into my contacts, before I answered him. It’s fine. I’m at Harrod’s xmas shopping. Len is here w/ me. –B

He answered me right away. On my way to find you now. Meet at Sea Grill? E

Well, if you say so, Mr. Blackstone, I thought, as I replied with an abrupt: ok. I tried to temper my irritation but something just felt off to me, and once again, my insecurities rushed to the surface to fill me with doubt.

I paid for my purchases and handed the loot over to Len who would get it all home for me. Then I arranged for gift wrap and delivery of my mother and Frank’s gifts with the concierge, and headed down to the Sea Grill to wait for Ethan.

I sipped my cranberry tea in the restaurant and ruminated about my weird day. Remembering the card Lance had pressed upon me; I pulled it out and studied it. Cell phone and email on the front, along with his name and US Army contact info. I turned it over and saw a handwritten message I hadn’t noticed before. Please let me make it right, Brynne.

I looked up and saw Ethan had arrived and was making his way over to my table, a large bouquet of lavender flowers in his hand. Shoving Lance’s card away quickly, I wondered just how guilty my husband was feeling, deciding he needed to bring flowers as a peace offering.

I should appreciate his gesture, I scolded myself.

Except I didn’t.

“SO what happened to you?” she asked, her eyes giving nothing away as to the nature of her true feelings. The flowers were accepted and sniffed appreciatively, but we were in public and Brynne was reserved. Maybe she really felt like bashing the whole lot over my head. You f**ked up. All I could do was hope she’d forgive me for my massive cock-up.

“I left the flat this morning sans my mobile. Sorry ’bout that.”

“That is not like you, Ethan.” She didn’t look up from her menu when she spoke. Yeah…you’re in the shithouse.

“No, it isn’t. I’m afraid I was distracted when I left.”

“And why was that?” She turned her menu over, studying it as if it were a rare book in the British Library Collection.

I desperately wished I’d had a chance for a smoke before racing over here. “Well, I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure I would be accepted”—she set down her menu and finally looked up at me—“but I had my first consultation with a Dr. Wilson at the Combat Stress Centre this morning.” Brown eyes stared at me from across the table. “Right, well…the centre is all the way out in Surrey, and I was leaving the offices to come meet you for Dr. B’s appointment, and ran into Sarah. She uses the CSC as well. I was hideously late by that point, and had no way to reach you, so I borrowed Sarah’s mobile—”

“—You found someone?” she interrupted, her face now full of the spark and fire I loved to see. I felt instantly better.

I nodded. “I did, baby. I’m giving Dr. Wilson a crack at me.”

She reached her hand across the table. “I’m so glad. So glad to hear you telling me this, Ethan. It’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” she said, pulling my hand up to her cheek.

I sensed something more than my tardiness was worrying my girl. “Why? Did everything go all right at Dr. B’s? Anything I need to know, Brynne?”

She pursed her lips and slowly rocked her head from side to side. “Nothing to report from Dr. B. Twenty-nine-week-old, acorn-squash baby, growing steady. All systems still a go.” She gave me a slow wink.

That’s my sexy girl. “So, you’re saying Dr. B is still my best mate?” She laughed at me silently, loving to tease me about cutting me off. It was funny—and it wasn’t. We’d just have to be more creative when the time came to drop the sex. I could stand it if I had her close by me, to touch, and to smell. Intimacy was so much more than just gettin’ off. I’d learned this lesson well in the short time since I’d found my Brynne.

“Yes, he’s still your friend. But, I want to know about your visit to the Combat Stress Centre.” She smiled at me, completely back to her bright happy self. “Tell me about Dr. Wilson. I want to know everything.”

How can I tell you everything, my beautiful darling? How? How can I ever do that to you?

I wished I could tell her everything, but I doubted I would ever be able to.

CHAPTER 14

24th December

London

“SHE’S beautiful, she’s smart, she’s sexy as hell, and she’s brilliant with the nosh.” I came up behind her and plastered myself against her body as she worked at the countertop from the kitchen. “Treats everywhere,” I said, snagging a sugar biscuit in the shape of a bird and popping it in my mouth. “Sweets, and…you.” I grabbed a handful of her arse and gave a squeeze as the buttery confection melted away in my mouth.

“Thief,” she said.

“You love me in spite of my thievery.” I nuzzled my nose at the back of her ear.

“I do, it’s true. The very first thing you thieved was my heart,” she said, turning to meet my lips for a sweet kiss, “and I don’t ever want it back.”

“Good thing, because it’s all mine,” I muttered before plundering between her lips with my tongue.

“And you say the nicest things to me.”

“But they’re all true,” I said, gathering her to face me, my hands loosely clasped low at her back. “You are beautiful.” Another deep kiss. “Wickedly smart.” I dragged my lips down her jaw and to her neck. “So sexy you make me burn.” I moved my mouth lower to cle**age that was growing by the day. “And a most accomplished kitchen-witch.” I ground my hips forward into hers, giving her a good feel of exactly how much I appreciated all of her talents.

“ONE year ago today we passed each other in an aquarium shop, having no idea we would come to this place in our lives together.” I ran my fingers over Ethan’s arm as we lay sprawled on the sofa on our sides, watching the lights on the tree framed by the city lights of London. “Did you remember?”